Billionaire of Indian descent appointed as Vice-Chairman of Liverpool Football Club.

Indian-origin billionaire Amit Bhatia is poised to play a significant role at Liverpool Football Club following the announcement of a minority stake acquisition by a consortium he leads. This group, known as 1892 Holdings, includes notable figures such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. The consortium is reportedly set to acquire approximately one-third of the club, which places Liverpool's valuation between £5 billion ($6.8 billion) and £6 billion.

Bhatia, who is married to the daughter of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, brings a wealth of experience in the realm of English football. He previously held a co-ownership position at Queens Park Rangers, a Championship club, for 18 years before stepping back as his involvement with Liverpool became public knowledge. Following the completion of this deal, Bhatia is expected to assume the role of vice-chairman on Liverpool’s expanded board, while Bezos is not anticipated to take a board position. However, Bryan Baum, the founder of K5 Sports, the venture capital firm facilitating Bezos' investment, is expected to join the board alongside Saverin’s wife, Elaine.

Mike Gordon, president of Fenway Sports Group (FSG), emphasized that the consortium's long-term vision aligns with the club's ethos. “As we considered this opportunity, it became clear that Amit and the consortium shared our long-term philosophy and appreciation for what makes Liverpool special,” he remarked. Despite this new investment, FSG will maintain majority ownership and operational control of the club, which they acquired for £300 million in 2010.